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Hat vs cap

Hello,

I have a question about the difference between a hat and a cap. I have read this thread and was also under the impression that a hat has a brim all around it. But on Google images, it shows some caps (with a visor, and not a brim all around it) under 'baseball hat'.

Is it correct to call it a 'baseball hat'? Or is it a regional usage/ AmE?

I found the following definitions for 'cap' and 'hat' on dictionary.com

cap

noun 1. a close-fitting covering for the head, usually of soft supple material and having no visor or brim.2.a brimless head covering with a visor, as a baseball cap. 3.mobcap.4.a headdress denoting rank, occupation, religious order, or the like: a nurse's cap. hat

noun 1.a shaped covering for the head, usually with a crown and brim, especially for wear outdoors.

Re: Hat vs cap

Originally Posted by fivejedjon

Hat is the general word, cap a type of hat. However, although a cap is a type of hat, we generally speak only of baseball caps, not baseball hats.

@fivejedjon, thank you. Google images has been helpful to learn/understand many things, but with such things (baseball cap/hat) it is confusing. Given what you have explained, it is perhaps using 'baseball hat' for 'baseball cap'.

Re: Hat vs cap

Originally Posted by Olympian

@fivejedjon, thank you. Google images has been helpful to learn/understand many things, but with such things (baseball cap/hat) it is confusing. Given what you have explained, it is perhaps using 'baseball hat' for 'baseball cap'.

It shows the same pictures for 'baseball hat/cap' and 'polo hat/cap'.

Google images is trying to find pictures that help give you an idea of what the word may mean; it is not in any way trying to restrict or define the word.